Last September, DC Examiner gossip columnists Patrick Gavin and Jeff DuFour “reviewed the press briefing and press gaggle transcripts from Tony Snow’s first four months on the job and compared them to those of Snow’s predecessor, Scott McClellan, during his first four months.  Under Snow, there were more than 330 percent more instances of laughter — as defined by the transcriber’s insertion of “(Laughter)” in the transcript — than under McClellan.”

With Snow out of comedy commission pending cancer treatment, Dana Perino has assumed press briefing responsibilities.  So the question is: Is Perino more, less, or just as funny as Snow?

Let’s figure this out by using Yeas & Nays’ same yardstick of counting (laughter)’s  (an unscientific method, to be sure, because it assumes the White House press corps knows funny).

In her eight briefings since March 26, there have been 22 instances in which something Perino has said something caused (laughter) to be emitted — almost three laughs per briefing.  Some have been cheap gags concerning blackberries and other process-related matters.  Others have been insidery references.  And a few have been of the throw-you-head-back-and-roar-with-laughter variety.

But with merely three per briefing, we hope Perino can come up with more killer material.  Perhaps she could start by turning the microphone to “funny.”  Or maybe ask the audience, how many of you are from out of town?